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Cloning | The Oxford Encyclopedia of the History of American Science, Medicine, and Technology - Credo Reference

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The Oxford Encyclopedia of the History of American Science, Medicine, and Technology, edited by Hugh Richard Slotten, Oxford University Press, Inc., 1st edition, 2014. Credo Reference, https://search.credoreference.com/content/entry/ouposmat/cloning/0. Accessed 25 Jan. 2022.

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Cloning has been a hot topic of debate for many years, with arguments for and against its use. While some see cloning as a promising advancement in science, others view it as unethical and dangerous. In this article, we'll explore 25 pros and 25 cons of cloning, examining both the benefits and the potential risks associated with this controversial practice. So buckle up and get ready to delve into the world of cloning!

Pros of Cloning

1. Medical Advancements

One of the most significant advantages of cloning is its potential to advance medical research. By creating genetically identical organisms, scientists can study the effects of certain diseases and treatments without the variability of individual genetic factors.

2. Improved Agriculture

Cloning could be used to produce healthier, more productive livestock and crops, benefiting farmers and consumers alike.

3. Conservation Efforts

Cloning endangered species could help preserve biodiversity and prevent the extinction of certain animals.

4. Reproductive Freedom

Cloning offers a means for infertile couples to have biological children, regardless of their genetic makeup.

5. Genetic Modification

Cloning allows for precise genetic modification, potentially curing or preventing certain genetic diseases.

6. Reduced Animal Testing

Cloning could reduce the need for animal testing in medical research, as genetically identical animals could be used instead.

7. Tissue and Organ Regeneration

Cloning could be used to regenerate damaged tissue and organs, potentially revolutionizing the field of regenerative medicine.

8. Space Exploration

Cloning could provide a means for humans to reproduce and sustain life on long-duration space missions.

9. Enhanced Food Production

Cloning could help increase food production, potentially reducing world hunger.

10. Rapid Reproduction

Cloning allows for rapid reproduction of desirable traits in plants and animals, potentially leading to greater efficiency in agriculture and medicine.

11. Improved Drug Development

Cloning could lead to more effective drug development and personalized medicine, tailored to an individual's genetic makeup.

12. Preservation of Genetic Material

Cloning could be used to preserve the genetic material of deceased individuals or endangered species.

13. Disease Research

Cloning could be used to study the effects of diseases on organisms without putting humans at risk.

14. Longevity Research

Cloning could provide insight into the aging process and potential ways to extend human lifespan.

15. Replication of Desirable Traits

Cloning could be used to replicate desirable traits in animals and plants, potentially increasing agricultural efficiency.

16. Organ Transplants

Cloning could be used to grow replacement organs for those in need of transplants.

17. Disaster Relief

Cloning could provide a means for quick and efficient response to natural disasters, such as cloning food or animals to help populations recover.

18. Improved Veterinary Medicine

Cloning could be used to study and treat animal diseases, leading to better veterinary medicine.

19. Environmental Restoration

Cloning could be used to restore damaged ecosystems, potentially reversing the effects of environmental disasters.

20. Space Colonization

Cloning could provide a means for humans to establish colonies on other planets, ensuring genetic diversity and sustainability.

21. Elimination of Genetic Diseases

Cloning could provide a means for eliminating genetic diseases from populations.

22. Agricultural Sustainability

Cloning could help ensure the sustainability of agricultural practices, potentially reducing environmental damage.

23. Enhanced Research

Cloning could allow for the study of genetic and environmental factors on organisms, leading to new discoveries in science and medicine.

24. Improved Animal Breeding

Cloning could improve animal breeding, potentially producing healthier and more desirable traits.

25. Disease Prevention

Cloning could be used to create models for testing vaccines and treatments for diseases, potentially preventing widespread outbreaks.

Cons of Cloning

While there are many potential benefits of cloning, there are also significant risks and drawbacks to consider. Here are 25 cons of cloning:

1. Ethical Concerns

Many people have ethical concerns about cloning, believing it to be unnatural and morally wrong.

2. Safety Concerns

Cloning carries significant safety risks, as cloned organisms may have genetic abnormalities and other health issues.

3. Reduced Genetic Diversity

Cloning reduces genetic diversity, potentially making organisms more susceptible to disease and environmental changes.

4. Expensive

Cloning is a costly and time-consuming process, making it inaccessible to many people and organizations.

5. Unpredictable Outcomes

Cloning can lead to unpredictable outcomes, as genetic modifications may have unintended consequences.

6. Reduced Reproductive Success

Cloned organisms may have reduced reproductive success, potentially leading to negative impacts on populations.

7. Loss of Genetic Variation

Cloning can lead to a loss of genetic variation, potentially reducing the resilience of populations to environmental changes.

8. Social Implications

Cloning could have significant social implications, potentially leading to discrimination and inequality based on genetic makeup.

9. Reduced Genetic Adaptability

Cloning reduces genetic adaptability, potentially making organisms more vulnerable to environmental changes.

10. Increased Risk of Disease

Cloned organisms may be more susceptible to disease, potentially leading to widespread outbreaks.

11. Reduced Genetic Diversity in Food Production

Cloning in agriculture could lead to reduced genetic diversity, potentially reducing the resilience of crops to pests and diseases.

12. Unnatural

Cloning is seen by many as an unnatural process that goes against the laws of nature.

13. Lack of Diversity

Cloning could lead to a lack of genetic diversity in populations, potentially reducing their long-term viability.

14. Reduced Genetic Complexity

Cloning reduces the genetic complexity of organisms, potentially leading to negative impacts on ecosystems.

15. Limited Genetic Flexibility

Cloning limits genetic flexibility, potentially making it difficult for organisms to adapt to changing environments.

16. Misuse

Cloning could be misused for unethical purposes, such as creating clones for personal gain or profit.

17. Legal Issues

Cloning raises a variety of legal issues, such as ownership of genetic material and the rights of cloned organisms.

18. Negative Environmental Impacts

Cloning could have negative environmental impacts, such as the spread of invasive species and the disruption of natural ecosystems.

19. Potential for Abuse

Cloning could be abused for nefarious purposes, such as creating armies of clones or genetically modifying humans for enhanced traits.

20. Reduced Genetic Adaptation

Cloning reduces genetic adaptation, potentially making organisms more vulnerable to environmental changes.

21. Limited Genetic Variability

Cloning limits genetic variability, potentially reducing the ability of organisms to adapt to changing conditions.

22. Ethical Implications

Cloning raises significant ethical implications, such as the potential for exploitation of cloned organisms and the use of clones for organ harvesting.

23. Risk of Genetic Disorders

Cloned organisms may have a higher risk of genetic disorders, potentially leading to health issues and reduced lifespan.

24. Limited Genetic Expression

Cloning can limit genetic expression, potentially reducing the ability of organisms to respond to environmental stimuli.

25. Reduced Resilience

Cloning reduces the resilience of populations, potentially leading to negative impacts on ecosystem health and sustainability.

Not all topics are as polarizing and anger-inducing as cloning when it comes to causing quite a stir and causing controversy. This was once considered a significant achievement in biology; however, this is no longer the case in the modern scientific industry. Its opponents are growing, making such a technological debate a hot topic in biology debates worldwide. The technology of human and plant cloning is already here. As demonstrated by Dolly, the sheep responded to the supreme God's role in the soul, society, and even the quality of the cloned individual. In return, however, the benefits are pretty deceptive. So, would the entire program benefits society, or is it morally questionable? Here are the benefits and drawbacks of cloning humans and other animals to help you make an informed decision.

Pros of Cloning
1. Help to Eliminate Defective/Weak Genes.
Although the genetic illness is not linked to being one of the killer diseases, it is a chance to develop into a severe illness in the future. As humans reproduce, cell damage in DNA structures increases, resulting in mutated and defective genes. This can be avoided by cloning new, healthy cells and replacing old, defective ones. This will improve the overall performance of the newly created cells, making them stronger and more active than the old and existing cells. The process is intended to improve the existing cell by removing or copying the entire cell structure while removing all mutated cells and defects. As a result, cloning replaces damaged cells while producing new and healthy cells.
2. Cloning is a Logical Step in Reproductive Technology.
Because identical twins are natural clones or polypoid in plants, we can conclude reproductive cloning is the natural, technological method of the same process. In cases where Infertility is at stake and couples cannot get their own, should they not be allowed the chance to have their own? Or the ones who have lost their kids should not be allowed to replace or clone their lost child? Moreover, those contributing to biology, arts, literature, and music would be ideally cloned to add a replica of the skills and add more to society. It is then a way that society can use to replace or improve skills in an existing individual. Imagine cloning the ten best football players or top musicians globally; this will increase the world's content and improve skills that the world might lose due to death.
3. It's an Invention that can Positively change the Globe.
Cloning humans or plants is a novel and creative method that has the potential to alter the world significantly. Not only can animals and plants be revived with this technology, but humans can also be revived to contribute some of their potential skills to the economy. The goal is to retain essential skills from specific people or features in certain animals. The untimely death of a trained and well-respected trainer can result in inefficient human labor. Cloning can fill the void and replace the position left by returning the person to the people who need them the most.
4. Improve Recovery in Traumatic Injuries.
Those who developed quadriplegia due to a horrific accident or professional athletes who tore their recovery time may experience longer or even permanent damage to their body parts, making it impossible to regain their original state. Cloning the regard can reduce recovery time and instill true healing power. The main goal of science is to provide answers, and if we can get some solutions on how to speed up the recovery of any traumatic injuries, then giving it a shot may be prudent and worthwhile.
5. Bring out New and Genetically modified Genes.
By cloning cells, potential hosts/parents can select specific traits and characteristics for their children. This means choosing your offspring's eye color, gender, and other characteristics. This is an enormous contribution and a fantastic way for many scientists to use biology in novel and beneficial ways. The world can decide to eliminate certain traits from children to improve the quality and behaviors of future generations. Through science and cloning, we can eliminate some characteristics and production rates of animals, plants, and humans. And cloning is a scientifically proven method of accomplishing this.
6. Eliminate Infertility.
With advancements in infertility research, the world now has some solutions and better treatments for Infertility; cloning can provide the solution and the opportunity for parents to select specific traits for their offspring. The procedure uses a cloned cell to create an identical male or female twin. This means that infertile people can feel the same pride as those with children without undergoing invasive and painful procedures to treat their reproductive organs.
7. Cures Disorders.
This technology can cure cell disorders by replacing or growing damaged organs and tissues with the plant and the human body. Transplanting any social organization becomes more straightforward, with an improved success rate. Although the possible scientific and health benefits of cloning in both animals and humans are still unknown, it is wise that such tech can fully transform better ways by which many body disorders.

Cons of Cloning
1. Faster Aging.
The entire process involves using older cells to generate a DNA structure for the clones; there is a chance that the imprinted age will be adopted in the growing and new sections. This situation may result in premature aging complications and death in the worst-case scenario. A cell's genetic sequence is thought to have produced younger cells. Because cloning is intended to replace cells, some new cells copy the same aging characteristics and print them on newly cloned animals, resulting in faster aging.
2. Cloning Interferes with Nature.
Most opponents of these approaches believe that humans created this procedure. It is intended to interfere with nature and its expanding scale; it is believed that the natural way of procreation should not be interrupted or altered. According to research on cloned humans and animals, this process affects the animals and causes many domino effect cases. Other aspects of life may be altered or negatively impacted if the process is used. And if genes are altered to produce more intelligent and bright beings than others, the average person will have no place in development and life activities. So it is wise to allow life to be dictated by God, who initiated it in the first place; any alteration or interference means changing the whole system from the owner.

Though animals and human clones would be an exact new life set with distinct preferences, a slight loss of individuality would still pose a risk. These new beings will have unique thinking abilities that prevent mixing or interacting with ordinary people. There will be an increase in class and thinking group isolations due to this difference in thinking and ability to relate. Aside from cloning being a unique twin of someone regardless of age or other personal traits, the new creature will have some unique traits that may distinguish it from a typical way of life. In a real-life environment, the sense of individuality is also dangerous; creatures are supposed to interact, share ideas, solve a common problem, and do other activities together. But introducing specific traits means a specific problem-solving ability and unique approaches.
3. Bring a Sense of Individuality.
One massive disadvantage to cloning animals and humans is its ability to create a gap between normal animals and cloned creatures. In cases where clones are not treated equally, human beings can lead to division and social unrest. And since there are differences and gaps in the world, from social status, race, age, and color, people might feel that animal and human cloning can impact a new difference that will harm the same.
4. Division of People.
With the rise of animal and human cloning, humans and animals will inevitably become more of a random commodity than in an individual life. When parents dislike their children, they clone other children to create a perfect child. It could also create a new societal and family division in which excellent and accurate clones are treated differently than regular people.
5. Cloning may Decrease the Overall Human and Animal Value of Life.
Giving people another chance to choose who they want as their kids are God's face, and having it scientifically is against any religious belief. Life is entirely God's plan, but with cloning, it depends on science to give traits and other characteristics that are petrary to life's owner. People or believers with a solid or basic understanding of religion oppose the whole procedure of animal and human cloning because they feel that it would lead man or scientist to be creators changing the authority of the supreme being or God. Since the whole religion has a way of introducing controversial matters, there are passionate views that are not vital based on facts but are somewhat emotional and religious. Anytime these views are based upon, religion is the sole motivating factor that keeps people agreeing or reaching concessions with this technology.
6. The Whole Process is Against Religious Ethics.
Opponents of human and animal cloning are a moot point because the procedure is unsuccessful; on a random scale, over 89 percent of animal and human cloning attempts have failed, implying that animal DNA is only exposed to risk once during the entire process. As you can see, animal DNA can be contaminated or altered, so your chances of success are slim. Furthermore, the implication of what will happen if the entire process fails is unknown, leading to problems that science cannot solve.
7. It has A lot of Failures.
Conclusion

The science of animal cloning has continued to improve, and it is expected that it will be long and complicated to become fully functional. Do humans and animals have a soul that would be lost/damaged during the process? Or is this the following way for humanity to replace God? Reaching consciousness on this hot topic is not that simple, but having a full copy of it can lead to some clarity. Looking at both sides of the coin allows us to have a diverse viewpoint. While the discussion about cloning is ongoing, what is your take?

Sources:

1. Blackall LL, Burrell PC, Gwilliam H, Bradford D, Bond PL, Hugenholtz P. The use of 16S rDNA clone libraries to describe the microbial diversity of activated sludge communities. Water Science and Technology. 1998 Jan 1;37(4-5):451-4.

2. LaBar M. The pros and cons of human cloning. Thought: Fordham University Quarterly. 1984 Aug 1;59(3):319-33.

3. Cerf NJ, Grangier P. From quantum cloning to quantum key distribution with continuous variables: a review. JOSA B. 2007 Feb 1;24(2):324-34.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dolly_(sheep)

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50 Intense Pros and Cons of Cloning 2023 | Ablison

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Cloning has been a hot topic of debate for many years, with arguments for and against its use. While some see cloning as a promising advancement in science,

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Getty Images / Jeff J Mitchell

Twenty years ago this week, at the age of six months, Dolly the cloned sheep was unveiled to the world amid much controversy. Newspapers proclaimed the scientific community was "in an uproar"; others said the creation was "anticipated and dreaded" and the announcement prompted inevitable claims of human cloning being close to reality.

However, more than two decades since the sheep's "birth", full human clones are non-existent and cloning technology has remained, mostly, contained to scientific laboratories.

"When Dolly was announced, the media picked up on the fact we now have a clone and brought up science fiction-type scenarios, but the biology was really stunning," Lawrence Brody, from the National Human Genome Research Institute told WIRED. "The folks in Scotland had essentially figured out a way to reprogram the genome so it can make a whole organism, and renewed a very intense investigation into this area."

So where is the technology now, and, more importantly, where does it goes next?

What is cloning?

"The term cloning describes a number of different processes that can be used to produce genetically identical copies of a biological entity," explains the National Human Genome research group's website. At its simplest, cloning works by taking a genetic part of an organism and recreating it in another place.

Dolly was cloned using a process known as somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) which takes a somatic cell, such as a skin cell, and transfers its DNA to an egg cell with its nucleus removed. In the process, the DNA can be transferred by injection or through a process using electric currents.

Although revolutionary at the time, this method has since been largely superseded by the introduction of Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) , announced more than a decade ago. iPSCs are skin or blood cells that have been reprogrammed back into an embryonic-like pluripotent state, letting researchers develop them into any type of cell needed. For example, iPSCs can be used to treat diabetes, or iPSC blood cells can be used to create new blood free of cancer cells for a leukemia patient.

In 2006, Shinya Yamanaka, who is now a Nobel Prize winner, showed how mature cells in mice could be reprogrammed to become immature stem cells. A year later, research led by Drs. Kathrin Plath, William Lowry, Amander Clark, and April Pyle were among the first to create human iPSC.

"iPSCs have the potential to become multipurpose research and clinical tools to understand and model diseases, develop and screen candidate drugs, and deliver cell-replacement therapy to support regenerative medicine," researcher Charles Goldthwaite wrote about the potential of the method. iPSC stem cells can additionally be created in bulk.

How is cloning being used today?

While most cloning techniques are still within laboratories, there is a commercial industry that exists to produce clones of animals.

Utah State University, for instance, is cloning cows. "Cloning is an excellent way to help endangered species, promote disease resistance, or even increase milk production," the academic institution claims.

It's also possible to clone your pet, for a fee. One couple in the UK recently spent £67,000 on cloning their dead dog after sending the DNA to a company in South Korea. The cloned puppies were shipped to the UK.

US company Viagen claims to be "America's most trusted animal cloning company" and is able to clone horses, livestock - including cows, pigs, sheep, and goats - as well as pets. The firm says it can clone studs to produce quality racing horses which allow "breeders to better leverage their most exceptional animals".

ViaGen tells WIRED it has been operating for 15 years and in that time has "cloned thousands of animals" using the SCNT process. It says all the pets it produces are "normal healthy puppies and kittens".

"The process of cloning a pet from start to finish can take 8 to 12 months," the company said in a statement. "This is due to the time it takes to create the embryo, the 60-62 days for the dog or cat to experience a normal pregnancy, aftercare of the puppies and kittens before they are given to the pet owner."

Does cloning pose health risks?

There are unanswered questions about the long-term health of clones. In 2003, Dolly died young after developing a lung disease.

Conversely, a follow-up study by Kevin Sinclair, a professor of biology at Nottingham University, found cloned animals are capable of ageing healthily. His 2016 study of four seven-year-old Finn-Dorset sheep clones - called, Debbie, Denise, Dianna and Daisy - showed each of the animals had aged healthily and outlived Dolly.

The University of Nottingham academic said in the coming months the sheep will be euthanised and the most detailed study of large cloned animals will be undertaken.

What happens next?

Although there are limited tests of human stem cell cloning being carried out, Brody says the most likely application of cloning in coming years will remain in animals. "The biomedical applications still remain quite difficult," he explained. "We just don't experiment willy nilly when people are involved."

Sinclair believes "one of the main applications" of cloning in the future will be creating transgenic animals and adding them to the food production chain. Transgenic animals are those that have had a gene inserted into their genome. This process has the potential to eradicate disease by rewriting genes related to diseases. But this also comes with its own ethical issues and in Europe, for example, there is a ban on introducing cloned animal products to the food chain.

Elsewhere, Italian researcher Pasqualino Loi and his colleagues have been working on a method that combines gene reprogramming with SCNT cloning techniques. "SCNT has become a controllable process that can be used to 'rescue' endangered species, and for biomedical research such as therapeutic cloning and the isolation of induced pluripotent stem cells," a research paper from Loi explains.

Sinclair, who was not involved with the work, says Loi's process works by trying to emulate what happens in natural biological processes. During the culturing of cells it is possible to insert the new gene, which theoretically would be disease resistant.

"They can start to induce the reprogramming process before they do the nuclear transfer," Sinclair says. "You can maybe use modern genetic tools to do gene editing to render some cells resistant to these pathogens and use that to clone animals that are carrying disease resistant chains."

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Where are the human clones? 20 years since Dolly was unveiled we look at the future of cloning

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Twenty years ago this week, at the age of six months, Dolly the cloned sheep was unveiled to the world amid much controversy. Newspapers proclaimed the scientific community was "in an uproar"; others said the creation was "anticipated and dreaded" and the announcement prompted inevitable claims of human cloning being close to reality.